India, Jan. 26 -- Stressed by the never-ending encroachment upon natural habitats, wild species face a classic Darwinian challenge. The Indian rock python is one such creature, which has shown capabilities to adapt to human-altered landscapes and survive despite its conspicuous size.

A remarkable instance surfaced last week when a python of 12 feet and weighing a healthy 65 kgs was rescued from its adapted habitat along a Punjab canal. The big python, along with three other specimens, had been dwelling all these years in a thin strip of undergrowth (15 yards' width) on the banks of the dry Bist-Doab canal, and had gulped down quite a few stray dogs. The undergrowth is perilously proximate to the busy Ropar-Nawanshahr highway, and locals ...